The maximum entropy model (Maxent) and habitat suitability index (HSI) model are widely used in fishery forecasting studies. To compare the forecasting performance of these two models on fishing grounds and improve the scientific management of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) resources, this study used the fishery data of chub mackerel in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea from 2003 to 2012, and marine environmental data, including sea surface temperature, sea surface height, sea surface salinity and sea surface temperature gradient, to construct the Maxent model and HSI model. The aim was to analyze and compare the effectiveness of these two models in predicting the habitat of chub mackerel in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. The quantitative evaluation of the prediction performance of the two models was conducted using the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and the correspondence between the probability of fishing grounds predicted by the models and the percentage of the actual catches. The results showed that: (1) locations predicted by the maximum entropy model to have a high probability of fishing occurrence coincided with actual fishing locations. The probability of predicting fishery occurrence in the sea area without historical fishing data was lower. Locations predicted to have a high habitat index by the HSI model partially overlapped with actual fishing locations. A high habitat index was obtained in the sea area without historical fishing data. The probability of the HSI model predicting non-fishing grounds as fishing grounds was higher than that of the Maxent model; (2) the monthly average AUC values of the Maxent and HSI model were 0.95 and 0.66, respectively, indicating that the Maxent had relatively better predictive results; (3) when using the HSI model, non-fishing grounds data should be added to the model, and the collection of such data should be strengthened otherwise, there is a possibility of overestimation when such models forecast fishing grounds. When using the Maxent, the spatial coverage of fishery data must be improved otherwise, it cannot fully reflect the spatial and temporal distribution dynamics of the fishery. The results of this study provide a reference for improving the accuracy of forecasting for the chub mackerel fishery in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea.